Calculating cheese-cutter.



No. 657,62l.

H. G. RUTH.l

Patented Sept. Il, I900.

CALCULATING CHEESE CUTTER.

(Application med June 29, 1900.)

v No. 657,62L Patented Sept. Il, |900.

H. G. RUTH. CALCULATING CHEESE CUTTER.

(Application filed J une 29, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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CALCULATING CHEESE CUTTER.

(Application Bled .Tune 29, 1900.)

ma umws ravens co, Pumauwo., WASHINGTON, n. c,

No. 657,62I. Patented Sept. Il, |900. H. G. FHJTH.` CALCULATING CHEESE CUTTER.

(Application ledlune 29, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shea! l4.

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H. G. ROTH.

CALCULATING CHEESE CUTTER.

(Application led .Tuna 29, 1900.)

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I ali/22221? UNirEED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,1 HENRY c. ROTH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CALCULATING CHEESE-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,621, dated Application filed .Tune 29, 1900.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. ROTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Calculating'Cheese- Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for its object to provide a calculating cutting device for cheeses ot' circular cake form; and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations Ot devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken centrally through my improved device, some parts being shown in full. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken centrally throughrcertain of the parts shown in Fig. 1, but looking from a reverse direction, and some parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rotary cheese-table. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line c4134 of Fig. 2, some parts being removed. Fig. 5 is a detail in plan and on an enlarged scale, showing the measuring or calculating device operative on a cake of cheese, some parts beingi'broken away. Fig. (i is a detail in bottom plan,showing the graduated operating-rod of the calculating device. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section approximately On the line x7 cci of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away and others shown in full. Fig. 8 isa detail with some parts broken away and others removed, taken in section approximately on the line sus .128 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a section on the line m9 09 of Fig. 8, some parts being removed. Fig. l0 is a section on the line x10 m10 of Fig. 5. Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical sections, respectively, on the lines 00110012 of Fig. l0, looking in reverse directions. Fig. 13 is a detail showing one of the sO-called price-rings removed from working position. Fig. 14 is a view in side elevation, showing in detail the so-called markingwheel. Fig. 15 is a transverse section on september 11, 19oo.

Serial No. 22,()2'1-A (No model.)

lthe line 0015 m15 of Fig. 10. Fig. 1G is a transverse section on the line 0916901 of Fig. 1O,witl1 one of the indicator-lingers indicated by `dotted lines.

view of one of the graduated scales for indicating the total weight of the cheese, and Fig'. 42l is a plan view of the scale for indicating the total selling price or value of the cheese.

The cake of cheese (indicated by the character z) is supported on a rotary disk-like table d, provided with a depending central sleeve a',

-into which telescopes loosely the smaller sleeve a of a bracket a3, which in turn is se- :cured to the central portion of a base a4, shown as provided with legs d, which support the same. The rotary table ot is provided with a series of sharp brads a, whichV 1enter the cheese and cause it to rotate. 'bracket d3 is formed with quite large passage la7, and the depending open or skeleton por- The tion of the said bracket is covered with a wiregauze d8, which serves to keep out insects. The concavity of the bracket as is bisected by a pair ot' flanges a9, that terminate at their inner ends close to the rotary sleeve a' and extend vertically close to the bottom of the rotary table a. Partition-strips 0L10 extend ontward in diametrically opposite directions over the upper surface of theV base cias best shown in Fig. 19. The purpose of these partitions ai and al@ will be given later.

To properlylocate the cake of cheese on the table d, a round hole is cut through its axis and a centering-tube o is then passed therethrough. This centering-tube b fits into the upper end of the sleeve a and is provided with a screw-threaded stem b, which works adjustably by screw-threaded engagement in the stationary sleeve a2. This tube b is held against rotation, as presently noted, and it is provided with a longitudinal slit b2, extending from it-s top nearly or quite to its lower end. Through this slot b2 the end of a knife c is adapted to be inserted, as shown in Fig. 2. To prevent the end of the knife from being `withdrawn from the slot, it is provided with ICO a pin or projection c at its point, which pin is adapted to be inserted into the tube b only through the upper end thereof. ation with the point of the knife the tube b is provided with internal fulcrum-lugs b3.

The base a is provided at one side, just outward of the table a, with a post or standard f, over the upper end of which telescopes a sleevef', adjustably set by a screw f and rigidly or integrally connected at its upper end to the outer end of a radial straight-edge or guide f7, the inner end of which is formed with a head f3, through which the upper end of the centering-tube b telescopes. A thumbscrew f1, working through the head f8 and impinging on the tube b, together with the thumbscrew f2 in the sleeve f just noted, serves to hold the straight-edgef2 in its proper vertical adjustment, with its under surface close to but out of engagement with the upper surface of the cheese. In one side the straightedge f2 is formed with a longitudinally-extended slot f5, which is expanded or enlarged within the body of said straight-edge to form a longitudinally-extended bore or passage f6.

Mounted to slide on the outer end of the straight-edge f2 is a clamp f 7, adj ustably held by a thumb-screw f8 and provided with a depending ange fg, which when properly adjusted lies close to the outer surface of the cake of cheese, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The operating-rod Q is screwthreaded, and at its inner end it is formed with a ball Q', which is swiveled for rotary and for a limited vertical movement in a socket f1 of the head f3, heretofore noted. At its outer end the rod Q is shown as provided with a detachable handpiece Q2.

Countersunk in the rod Q, below the screwthreads thereof, is a pair of longitudinallyextended scale-bars Q3 and Q4, graduated as hereinafter specified. Working withscrewthreaded engagement on the rod Q is a measuring-wheel Q5, provided with sharp peripheral brads Q1", which engage into the upper surface of the cheese. A case or housing Q7 incloses all but the extreme lower portion of the wheel Q5, the sides thereof being mounted on the projecting trunnions or hubs on said wheel, as best shown in Fig. l0. On each side of the case Q7 is an indicator-fingerg, the inner end of which is expanded and perforated, as best indicated in Fig. 17, so as to loosely t over the grooved portion of the rod Qin such manner that it cannotl turn. By means of nuts Q, working on the rod Q, the fingers Q8 are adapted to be clamped against the hubs of the wheel Q5, so that the said rod Q, wheel Q5, lingers Q8, and nuts Q1 are locked and caused to turn together. The case Q7 is held against rotation by means of a sliding plunger Q10, mounted to work in the bore f 6 of the straightedge f2 and provided with a neck Q11, that projects through the longitudinal slot fsand is connected to the said case Q7 by a ball-'andsocket joint Q12. (Best illustrated in Fig. 7.)

For cooperation with each finger Q8 the adcheese.

jacent side of the case Q7 is provided wit-h two graduated rings Q13 and Q14. The purpose of graduating both sides of the case Q7 and providing two iingers Qs is to enable both the salesmen from the inside of the counter and the purchaser from the outside of the counter to readily read the indication; but hereinafter the said devices will for the sake of brevity be referred to'in the singular.

ScaZe-Qraduatows. -Tbe scale-bar Q3 on the operating-rod Q is in the illustration given graduated from 20 to 40 to indicate t-he number of pounds of various cakes of cheese. The twenty-pound graduation indicates a position just one-half as far from the axis of the centering-tube b as does the forty-pound graduation. Hence when the measuring-wheel Q5 is set for action on atwenty-pound cheese it will be moved but one-half as far under a complete rot-ation of the cheese as it will when itis set for action vupon a forty-pound any desired diameter; but, as illustrated, it is shown of such diameter that it will be given one complete rotation when properly set each time the cake of cheese is moved the distance occupied by a five-pou nd segment of the cake. Otherwise stated, the diameter of the said wheel Q5 is one-fourth the diameter of the circle traveled by the said wheel over the cake of cheese when set according to the twentypound graduation. ln setting the wheel the outer surface of the outer nut Q9 is alined with the graduation on the bar Q3 which corresponds to the total weight of the cheese. For instance, in Fig. 5 a device is shown as set for action on a thirty-pound cheese. The ring Q13 on the case Q7 is graduated and marked from l to 5, indicating pounds and fractions thereof, and as this ring Q13 answers for a cake of any weight it may be formed integrally with or marked directly on the case Q7. The bar Q1 of the rod Q is graduated and marked to indicate the total value or total selling price of various cakes of cheese, varying from four to eight dollars,by amounts differing, successively, by twenty cents. These amounts may be varied; but in the illustration given the grad nations of the scale Q4 correspond in extent and in spacing, but not of course in notations, to the scale-bar Q3. Again, in the illustration given the scale-bar Q4 and the ring Q14 are graduated for cheese to be sold per weight of twenty cents per pound. Thus comparing the scales Qand Q4 a twenty-pound cheese at twenty cents a pound should sell for four dollars, while considering the other extremes of the scale a forty-pound cheese at twenty cents per pound should bring eight dollars, and so on throughout thescale. These calculations maybe readily read by comparing the grad uation of the two scales alined with the outer nut Q9. Inasmuch as the wheel Q5 will be given one complete rotation when properly set, as already indicated, by the movement of a live-pound segment of cheese under the The measuring-wheel Q5 may have' IIO same and inasmuch as five pounds of cheese at twenty cents per pound should bring one dollar, the ring g1'l is graduated in tive-cent units of one dollar, as best shown in Fig. 13.

Operation: To cut the cheese, the knife is inserted substantially as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. The point of the same is engaged under one of the fulcrum-lugs b3 and then is moved pivotally downward until it reaches the position shown by the dotted lines in said figure. by two operations, the first being accomplished by engaging the point of the knife under the upper lug b3 and the final cut by the operation already described. The knife is arranged to cut against the forward and adjacent edge of the straight-edge f2, andthe said straight-edge insures the proper segment of cheese always being cut. The iiange j"9 of the bracket f7 serves to hold the last few segments of the cheese and to prevent the same lfrom being tilted by the action of the knife in cutting the same. When the measuring-wheel g5 and case gT are moved on the rod g, the plunger gw and its neck g follow the saule, and the slightly-varying angle between the neck gm and case g7 is permitted by the balland-socket joint Q12.

As an illustration of a specific use of the device let it be assumed that the cheese weighs thirty pounds and that the price is twenty cents per pound and that the purchaser wishes two pounds. In this case the wheel is set, as indicated in Fig. 5, at thirty pounds on scale g3 and at the six-dollar mark on the scale g4, and the cheese is then turned far enough to move the pointer g8 over two of the pound graduations of the ring Q13. The pointerg8 will then also indicate the value of two pounds of the cheese as forty cents on the ring gm. Hence if lthe purchaser wished forty cents worth of the cheese the same operation would have been performed. The knife is then depressed and the segment of cheese is cut. The next purchaser may desire twenty-ve cents worth of cheese, and for this operation the knife is withdrawn, the operating-rod g' is elevated by the knob g2 high enough to raise the brads Q6 of the markingwheel g5 out of contact with the cheese, and while in this position the operating-rod is turned until the pointer g8 is reset at zero, as shown in Fig. 1l. Then the rod is depressed or thrown back into an operative position on the cheese, and the cheese is then turned far enough to move the pointer g3 over to the twenly-ve-cent mark on the ring g, the pointer g8 indicating as well the weight of the segment of cheese on the ring Q13 as one and one-quarter pounds. The knife is then again depressed as before and the segment of cheese is cut. Thus it will be seen that by this device both value and weight are indicated at the same time. By providinga series of graduated rings g14 variously marked for cheese to be sold at different prices per pound absolute accuracy in the calculations If the cheese is large, it may be cut may be made. The price-'scale g'4 in this i11- stance is not required, it being only necessary to set the marking-wheel to correspond to the weight of the cheese, as indicated on the total-weight scale g3. If, however, the cheese is to be cut or sold by price regardless of weight, the price-scale g4 on the operatingrod g and the price-ring g14on the dial or case Q7 is all that is required. To illustrate: A

forty-pound cheese at ten cents per pound would be worth fourdollars, or'the same as a twentypound cheese at twenty cents per pound. Hence if the cheese is to be sold by price the measuring-wheel should be set at. the four-dollar mark on thc scale g4. If ten cents worth is to be cut, the cheese should be turned far enough to register ten cents on the price-ring g, so that said measuringwheel spaces oif a one-fortieth segment of the entire cheese. It matters not what the weight or price of a cheese may be, so long as the cheese is worth four dollars, inasmuch as for ten cents, for instance, the purchaser should secure a one fortieth segment of cheese. Hence it will be seen that the pricering 914 and the price-scale g4 will answer for any weight and price of cheese, so long as the total value of the cheese is not more or less than theamount indicated on the price-scale g4, which in the illustration given is from four dollars to eight dollars. The price-ring g14 and price-scale g4 may be graduated to any price or value so long as they are graduated to correspond in value.

The pin c may be removed from the knife c, in which case the knife may be used as an ordinary knife, while the point thereof may nevertheless be guided by the slot b2 of the centering-tube b.

As is usual, I provide a cover or bell 7c, preferably of glass, for inclosing and protecting the cheese, which cover rests upon the peripheral portion of the base all and incloses also the cutting mechanism above described. In connection with the cover 7c I provide a novel device for supporting and controlling` the same. In a socket m, secured to the base a4 and assisting in supporting the saine, the lower end of a tubular standard p is swiveled, as shown at p. The upper end of this standard p is provided with a tubular horizontal arm or extension p2, in which guide-sheaves p3 are mounted, as shown in Fig. 1. A cord or iiexible con nection p4 runs over the sheaves p3, being attached at one end to an eye c' of the cover 7c and at its other end to an eye p5 of a counterweight p, which works vertically within the standard p. This weightpi is preferably made hollow and filled with shot, as indicated at p7. At its lower end it is provided with a conical tip V798 and at its upper end wit-h a lug p9. vA pair of spring-pressed latches p10 are pivoted to the standard p, with their cambeaks p projecting through perforations therein and adapted for engagement with the lug p9 of the weight p6. The peripheral portion of the cap p8 at the lower end of ICO IIO

the weight p6 ts closely within the standard p, so that it acts after the manner of a piston. At the lower end of a standard p is an air tube or nipple p12, in which is a needlevalve p13, by means of which the supply of air into the lower end of the standard under the upward movement of the weight p6 may be varied. Preferably the cap p8 is of flexible material arranged to operate after the manner of an ordinary bicycle-pump piston, so that air will escape around the same readily when the weight is lowered. 7c is slightly heavier than the weight p6, 'so that the cover being released while in an upper position will move slowly downward, its movement being retarded by the passage of air into the lower end of the standard p, and by means of the valve p13 the rate at which it may be moved may be varied. When the cover k is raised and the weight p6 lowered, the lug p0 is engaged by the lower-latch p10 and the parts are held as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. The lower latch being released the weight and cover will be released and, as already indicated,will move into the positions indicated by'full lines in Fig. l, in which position the upper latch p10 will engage the lug p9 of the weight p6. When moving downward, the lug p has a cam action on the beak of the lower latch p10, and when moving upward it has a light'camming action on the beak of the upper latch. When the cover 7c is raised, it may be swung sidewise from a position over the cake of cheese by the pivotal movement of the standard p on its swivel p. Hence it will be seen that the standard and its connections serve as a miniature derrick lto elevate and support the cover 7a. A continuous circulation of air is permitted within the cover 7c through the meshes of the screen ci, and the partitions a9 0,10 heretofore noted, dividing, as they do, the lower portion of the inclosed compartment containing the cheese, will cause air to pass upward for contact with cheese.

It will of course be understood that the device is adapted for cutting various other articles--such, for instance, asbutter-and-hence is not limited to a cheese-cutter.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-of the United States, is as follows:

l. A device for measuring cheese, &c., comprising a wheel guide or support securable radially of the cheese and marked to indicate the total cheese, by weight or value, a measuring-wheel adjustable on said guide, for contact with the cheese at various radial points, and an indicator actuated by said measuring- Wheel and marked to indicate fractions or subdivisions of the cheese, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a rotary support for the cheese, of a measuring device comprising a wheel guide or support securable radially over the cheese and marked to indicate the total cheese, by weight or value, a measuring-wheel adjustable on said guide,'for con- The cover.

tact with the cheese at various radial points, and anindicator actuated by said measuringwheel and marked to indicate fractions or subdivisions of the cheese, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a rotary support and anon-rotary centering-tube, of a measuring device comprising a radial wheel guide orsupport marked to indicate the total cheese, by weight or value, a measuring-wheel adj ustable` on said guide for contact with the cheese, a relatively-fixed radial straight-edge overlying the cheese, and al1-indicator actuatedby said measuring-wheel and marked to indicate fractions or subdivisions of the cheese, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a rotary table or support and a non-rotary centering-shaft, of a relatively-fixed straight-edge radiating from said centering-shaft, a knife guided by said centering-shaft and cooperating with said straight-edge, and a measuring device comprisinga graduated radial wheel guide or support marked to indicate the total cheese by weight or value, a measuring-wheel adjustable o n said guide for contact with the cheese, and an indicator actuated by said measuringwheel and marked to indicate fractions or subdivisions of the total cheese, `substantially as described.

5. The combination with a table or support for the cheese and a cen tering-shaft rising axially therefrom, of a straight-edge radiating from said centering-shaft, a pivotal guiderod also radiating from said centering-shaft marked to indicate the total cheese as by weight or value, a rotary measuring-wheel adjustable on said measuring-rod for contact with the cheese, an indicator actuated by said measuring-wheeland marked to indicate fractions or segments of the cheese, anda connection tying said straight-edge and measuringrod together, substantially as described.

-6. The combination with the rotary table ct and the non-rotary centering shaft or tube b, of the straight-edge f2 having the head f3 secured to said shaftb and supported at its outer end, the graduated and screw-th readed measuring-rod gswiveledl to said head-f3, the measuring-wheel g5 and pointer g8 adjustably securable on said rod g, the case g? embracing saidwheel g5, and the connection gu mounted to slide longitudinally of said straight-edge f2 and connected to the case f7, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the table a and centering shaft or tube b, of the straight-edge f2 having the head f3 adjustably secured on said shaft l), and the telescoping connection f, f', adj ustably supporting the outer end of said straight edge, whereby said straightedge may be adjusted close to the top of said cheese, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a support for the cheese, of a cheese-cover, and means for supporting` and controlling said cover, comprising the tubular standard, the counterweight IOO IZO

working in said standard and connected to said cover, means for latching said counterweight in position to hold said cover elevated, and a valve controlling the admission of air into said standard, to regulate the descent of said cover when released, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a support and a cover for a cake of cheese, of an oscillating standard or support, and the counterweight working in said standard and provided with connections to the said cover, substantially as described.

l0. The combination with the cover k, of the tubular standard p with extended upper end p2 having the guide-sheaves p3, the counterweight p6 working within said standard p as a piston but having less weight than said cover, and the valve controlling the inlet of air to the lower end of said standard, said parts operating substantially as described.

1l. The combination with the base a4 provided with the central air-passage divided by a diainetrically extended partition, of the table supporting the cheese above said base,

and the cover 7c inclosing said table and the cheese supported thereby, substantially as described.

12. A device for measuring cheese comprising a support for the cheese, the centeringshaft Z2 rising from said support and provided with the head f3, the screw-threaded rod g swiveled to said head f3 at its inner end and provided with scale-graduations indicating both the total weight and total value of the cheese, the measuring-wheel g5 adjustable on said rod g, the pointer or finger g8 adjustable with said Wheel g5, clamping-nuts g" for locking said parts g5 and g8 on said rod g, and a non-rotary support adjustable on said rod g and provided with the pound and price graduations Q13 and glfcoperatiug With said finger g8, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY G. ROTH.

Witnesses:

A. P. T. SUFFEL, NORMAN JENSEN. 

